Patent · US Expired

Three stage self alignment structure and method

US4853830A · kind A · utility

52Cited by
8References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 17, 1988
Grant dateAug 1, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 17, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05K7/1454
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A structure is shown having three stages for guiding a system component into an operatively mounted position within an enclosure while simultaneously making a blind attachment of the electrical connectors to complete the power and signal circuits between the component and system contained within the enclosure. A coarse positioning structure includes a guide rail means for directing the component toward the operative, mounted position; an intermediate positioning structure functions within the tolerance of the coarse positioning means to substantially align the component including the electrical connectors and a fine positioning means aligns the electrical connectors for the final positioning as the component is latched into the operating position and electrical connections are completed. The three positioning functions are intitated serially.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.